Let’s get this out of the way first: The Vikings’ personnel evaluation process entering next week’s NFL scouting combine and upcoming free agency does not include Randy Moss.

“We’ll be moving on,” general manager Rick Spielman said Thursday during a pre-combine interview with local media. “Randy was a great player, but we’ll focus more on trying to get a younger team.”

The Vikings began draft meetings Monday and assessed at least a portion of the unrestricted free agency pool last week.

Conveniently, early research points to cornerback and wide receiver – major positional needs for the Vikings – as strengths in the draft and free-agency pools, Spielman said.

Stocked with at least $10 million in expected salary cap space and up to 10 draft picks, the Vikings hope to avoid a third consecutive season affixed to the bottom of the NFC North standings.

But Spielman’s blueprint calls for the Vikings to get younger and build through the draft, which makes their free-agency plans difficult to define.

Spielman hinted the Vikings could have the resources to spend on what he calls one “big bullet” in free agency. Consider a downfield threat to complement Percy Harvin (San Diego’s Vincent Jackson) or an expensive cornerback such as Kansas City’s Brandon Carr or Atlanta’s Brent Grimes.

Failure to make a free-agency splash would imply one of two things: The Vikings are bracing for a turbulent 2012 because of the rebuilding process, or they feel they are not too far away from contending.

“We’ve got a couple of areas where we think we have big needs. More than one,” Spielman said. “If there is a big splash (in free agency), we may be able to do that, but we’re also going to see if we can fill that in the draft as well. We’ll explore all those options as we go forward.”

The Vikings aren’t ruling out anything when it comes to the team’s No. 3 overall pick – including Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, who could be available. Spielman said the team is “very, very confident” in quarterback Christian Ponder, the No. 12 overall pick in 2011, but won’t ignore quarterback prospects if someone is “too good to pass up.”

For context, the Vikings conduct thorough evaluations on all prospects, and Spielman’s comments could simply highlight the team’s intrigue for trading the No. 3 pick to a quarterback-starved team in exchange for more picks in a deep draft.

The Vikings plan to fully evaluate Griffin and Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who appears destined to become an Indianapolis Colt as the No. 1 overall selection. Spielman will be doing what he calls the “full Monty” on the quarterbacks, attending their private workouts and possibly hosting them at Winter Park.

A talented left tackle (USC’s Matt Kalil, Iowa’s Riley Reiff) or Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon also might be available at No. 3.

Spielman predicts the quarterbacks will drive most of the trade buzz, but it’s likely too early in the process for legitimate offers to develop. The St. Louis Rams, with the second overall pick, ultimately have more leverage.

“If they come to us, we’ll be prepared,” Spielman said of trading back. “I don’t know what other teams are thinking right now.”

As it stands, the Vikings’ core roster is an amalgam of highly productive players, inexperienced former late-round picks and aging veterans with bloated contracts. Mass layoffs in an effort to inject youth makes little sense – it’s not the fault of all 53 players that the Vikings finished 3-13 – but at least a reasonable amount of change is necessary.

Over-30 Vikings free agents such as tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and linebacker E.J. Henderson might not return. Cornerback Cedric Griffin, due $4.1 million in 2012, is a leading candidate to be released.

Left guard Steve Hutchinson ($7 million salary) likely needs to take a pay cut to remain on the team.

Though unwilling to reveal his full roster plan, Spielman said his personnel staff is relying more than ever on the input of coaches to identify impact players.

“I am not into predictions, but I know our goal is to get as many good players in here and you have seen that where teams flip this pretty quickly,” Spielman said. “This is not like we don’t have any players on this roster. I think we have some very good blue-chip players on this roster. Now we just got to add some young pieces around those blue-chippers that were playing.”

Cook waits for trial

Cornerback Chris Cook and the Vikings are in a holding pattern as his felony domestic assault case plays out.

Cook has a trial date of March 5 and plans to claim self-defense in light of his November arrest after an altercation with his girlfriend.

“I’ve spoken to Chris a few times,” Spielman said. “You would hope – and again, I’m not a professional – but I know you would think that someone who had to go through what he had to go through has grown from that experience and is going to mature from that experience, too.”

Peterson progressing

Running back Adrian Peterson is splitting time between Houston and Minnesota as he rehabs a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered Dec. 24 at Washington.

Spielman said the Vikings are “very pleased” with how he’s progressed. Trainer Eric Sugarman has been in close contact with Peterson.

Forecasting Peterson’s return is like “looking into a crystal ball,” Spielman said.

“But the way he’s been working and where he’s at in his rehab, he’ll be extremely close to being ready,” Spielman said.

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